The Detroit Lions continue to lose their depth at the wide receiver position. In Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Lions lost rookie receiver Ryan Broyles with an ACL injury. Head coach Jim Schwartz announced during Monday’s press conference that Broyles will be out the remainder of the 2012 NFL season.

Prior to the injury, Broyles caught one pass for three yards in the game. The rookie out of the University of Oklahoma went from hardly being used by the Lions to their number two receiver behind Calvin Johnson. A season ending injury to Nate Burleson gave Broyles and second year receiver Titus Young the opportunity to step up for the Lions. Young has since become inactive by the team after lining up wrong and fighting with coaches.

The injury to Broyles is of big concern to the team and fans as it is similar to a college injury suffered in 2011. Broyles missed part of his senior year at Oklahoma with a torn ACL in his left knee. Sunday’s injury took place in his right knee, meaning Broyles will now have to come back from another major surgery. The Lions surprised fans when they took the injured Broyles with the 54th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Broyles appeared to be fully recovered when he caught his first pass in the Lions Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears. In that game, Broyles ended with three catches for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Broyles finishes his 2012 rookie season with 22 receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns. The rookie receiver was targeted by Matthew Stafford 33 times on the season. Broyles best game was against the Houston Texans on Thanksgiving Day, when he caught six passes for 126 yards.

The injury to Broyles leaves the Lions particular thin at wide receiver. Calvin Johnson remains the bright spot, with his record setting pace. Behind Calvin are four healthy receivers in: Mike Thomas, who was acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this season, Brian Robiskie, Kassim Osgood and Stefan Logan. The Lions will need to figure out what they are going to do with out of favor Titus Young and consider drafting a new receiver in the 2013 NFL Draft.